Crazy stuff

I receive about ten differenet catalogs each month for gun, camping, and hunting stuff. Each month I see a bewildering array of crap for sale that one wonders... why would anyone buy that crap?

One of them is selling a certain brand of scope, dirt cheap with no warranty and no returns. Sounds like a greattttt deal. If it has no warranty and no returns, it's going to be a beauty of a waste of money.

Another one I have questions of are some of Aimpoint's very high end dot/holoscopes scopes. They run to about 1500 bucks. These scopes are basically no or very little magnification and project a variety of target "dots" onto a small screen that allow the shooter to leave both eyes open and target they, umm, target. Most help to a range of 100 yars, maybe two hundred. These high end Aimpoint scopes are night vision compatible and have some circuitry that will make one battery last like 5+ years. That's a lot, considering I can get a similar product a few pages later for $40, minus the 5+ year battery life circuitry and night vision. I can buy a LOT of batteries for the grand of cash saved. Besides, why am getting a night compatible one when 1) I do not own night vision equipment, 2) would be unlikely to "mount" that night vision equipment if I heard a home intruder, 3) be in a normal predicament where I would need night vision sight capability, unless I was in the military.

Add to this stuff is a plethora of grips. I never realized that everyone needs stag, fake mother-of-pearl, or fake ivory grips for every one of their guns. The list of "junk" can continue for days of articles, but I have more to do today then continue this list.

The public supports Gun Rights

http://www.gallup.com/poll/105721/Public-Believes-Americans-Right-Own-Guns.aspx

According to this Gallop poll, 73% of people agree that the 2nd Amendment is a guaranteed personal right, like the other rights in the Bill of Rights.. To extend this, this means that the vocal minority are making a lot of noise. Yes, as we already knew, the Anti's are the minority, almost by more than 3 to 1. To extrapolate further 93% of the people polled believe that there is a fundamental right to have firearms in this country (73% for individuals and 20% only for militia). 7% are undecided. The Anti's would have us all believe that there is a huge portion of the country that wants no guns, period.

To add insult to injury, 6% of those polled who stated they believed that only militia should have guns own guns. Umm, if you do not believe it is a personal right, why would you own one? Could it be for self protection?

Additionally, the number of people who want gun control to be more strict has dropped from 54% in 2000 to 49% in 2008, while those who want gun ownership laws to become less strict has gone up from 31% to 38% in the same time frame.

It's an interesting poll, and surprising that the anti-gun media would be publish it.

Production is up

http://www.gunreports.com/news/handguns/BATFE_ANNUAL_FIREARMS_MANUFACTURING_EXPORT_REPORT_2006_224-1.html?ET=gunreports:e139:146653a:&st=email

This is listed as total firearm productions, so I am assuming this includes military contract weapons.

U.S. firearm production in 2006 increased 3.3 percent. Pistol and rifle production increased the most in 2006, while shotguns posted a slight increase, and revolvers a 14-percent decline. This is pretty good, after a 4-percent rise in 2005.

"Manufacturing 603,279 firearms, Remington led Mossberg (425,761), Smith & Wesson (408,095), Sturm, Ruger (403,272), and Savage (122,438) in total manufacturing." It's the sixth straight year Remington has kept number-one ranking. Funny thing is...Remington and Mossberg make only long guns.

It would be interesting to see all U.S. sales, including imports and surplus. For historical comparisons ( http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_8_45/ai_55605755 )

TOTAL FIREARMS PRODUCTION ALL RIFLES, HANDGUNS, AND SHOTGUNS MANUFACTURED IN THE U.S.
1980 5,645,131
1994 5,161,127
1996 3,834,528
1997 3,573,824

TOTAL FIREARMS PRODUCTION FOR
1997 SHOTGUNS 915,978
HANDGUNS 1,406,505
REVOLVERS 370,428
PISTOLS 1,036,077
RIFLES 1,251,824
TOTAL 3,573,624

TOTAL FIREARMS PRODUCTION FOR 1996
SHOTGUNS 926,732
HANDGUNS 1,484,477
REVOLVERS 498,944
PISTOLS 985,533
RIFLES 1,424,319
TOTAL 3,834,528

Proposed Florida Law

http://www.bradenton.com/breakingnews/story/516181.html

"The bill under consideration states that businesses cannot prohibit employees or customers from keeping legally owned guns locked inside their cars if, like Gray, they have permits to carry concealed weapons. An identical bill already passed the House two weeks ago."

The other side of this debate is, "...we own this building. You couldn't bring a gun to a person's house without their permission. Why should you be allowed to bring one to their business?"

I agree that businesses and private citizens have the right to allow or disallow guns on their premises. I, on the other hand, believe that my car is my property and I have the right to protect myself while in my vehicle, to and from my place of employment. Cross your fingers.

Charlton Heston

Charlton Heston died a couple of days ago. I just returned from a weekend of camping when i heard this. This is a sad thing. Not only was he a great actor in such epics as the Ten Commandment, Ben Hur, and Planet of the Apes. He was also an early Hollywood-type to support the Civil Rights and even walked with Rev. King in 1063 in Washington D.C. Initially a supporter of the Gun Control Act of 1968, due to the assassinations of Rev. King and Bobby Kennedy.

He later became the President of the N.R.A. and was extremely proactive is gun control rights. He was not perfect as a Gun Supporter and gave into some new laws that hurt gun owners, but he was a very forward and verbal 2nd-Amendment supporter.

Arizona and Concealed Carry at Schools

http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?ID=3754

Senate Bill 1214, critical Right-to-Carry reform legislation, introduced by State Senator Karen Johnson (R-18), could be heard in the Senate Committee of the Whole on Thursday, April 3. SB1214 would permit citizens with concealed weapons permits to carry a firearm for self-defense on public university and college campuses. The deadline for bills to be out of their house of origin is Friday, April 4, which is why its imperative that NRA members continue to call their State Senator and ask for their support for this important right to carry measure.

Let's see what happens tomorrow.

Teachers carrying handguns

There is a debate now raging on the potential of arming teachers at our nations schools, colleges, and universities. On one hand, this will do away with the "gun free" areas that have made targets out of crazies on killing sprees and allow citizens t protect themselves and others. On the other hand, it does allow handguns to become accessible. All it takes is one teacher to put their weapon into their desk drawer, walk out of the room to speak to another teacher and you can get a 2nd grader who now has access to a gun. Or worse.. a disgruntled 11th grader.

There is a law going through the Arizona State Legislature right now that would allow teachers and students with a CCW to carry on campuses. Honestly, the more I think about this, the more I am confused. I watch the news every day and see a "road rage" segment; someone getting wounded or killed. What happens when a student with a CCW is taunted by a classmate or teased... or takes one too many pills before he gets to class and loses control? Are schools the right place to have easy access to handguns?

Most of me says YES, but there is the part that questions the responsibility of a 21 college student since i work with a bunch of college students and am currently attending school, again. I see these "kids" everyday and wonder if they will make it to 22, with the way they drive. Having a CCW takes responsibility that some people are not capable of. As for the educators, I am not so sure about a few of them, either.